Refrigerator cabinet construction



Jan. 5, 1943. c. P ERICKSON REFRIGERATOR CAB INET CONSTRUCTION Filed May; 9, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 5, 1943. c. P. ERICKSON 2,307,121

' REFRIGERATOR CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed May 9, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 5, 1943 imrnrosasroa csnnm'r cossraucriou Carl Philip Erickson, Connersville, Ind., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Philco Corporation,

Philadelphia, Pa... a corporation of Pennsylvanla Application May 9, 1940, Serial No. 334,291

8 Claims.

Thi invention relates to refrigerator cabinet construction and, generally stated, has for its object to provide an improved method of and means for usembling in connected relation outer and inner spaced insulated wall structures with interposed gasket or like sealing means. The improvements are especially adapted for the fabrication of doors for refrigerator cabinets and present invention, the door being partly broken I away;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken through the upper portion of the door, the adjacent cabinet being shown in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a section through the hinge portion of the door taken substantially on the line 3-4 have been practically applied to large scale or of Fig. 1; i volume production thereo1',-particularly doors for Fig. 4 is a further section taken on the line cabinets of the so-called "streamline type, in H of Fig. 1;

which instance the door forms the entire upper front portion of the cabinet with side and top edges flush with the outer side and top walls of the cabinet as in the U. 8. Patent to Erickson No. 2,079,608. The appearance of cabinets of this character is much improved by having the door panel fit relatively close to the front face of the cabinet when in closed position, so that only a very small gap remains between the door and the cabinet face and which gap is filled by the Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of one comer of the door as viewed from the inner side thereof with the sealing gasket or head partly broken away; v

Fig. 6 is a section through the outer edge of the door outer panel after the drawing operation;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the blank from which the frame member or reinforcement ring is struck;

Fig.7 shows the ring in finished form after it'has been drawn or otherwise shaped;

Fig. 8 is a section through the door with the frame member or reinforcement ring spot-welded in place;

Fig. 9 shows thecompleted door cuter panel; Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the outer edge portion of the completely assembled door; and

readily constructed in a manner such as to fit close to the face of the cabinet when in closed position without unduly restricting or confining the door compression gasket into too small a space, permitting the use of a'large balloon type gasket which results in an easy closing door and high sealing eiiiciency;

A door for refrigerator cabinets which is relatively light in weight so that wear on the hinges and resultant sagging and misalignment of the door is reduced;

Connecting means for spaced outer and inner insulated walls particularly adapted for use with tages will become apparent in view of the following description taken in conjunction with th drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a refrigerator cabinet embodying the features of the Fig. 11 is a view in front elevation, on a reduced scale, of a refrigerator cabinet of the type ferred to wherein the walls about the door opening have substantially fiat or non-beveled faces and the marginal edge portions of the door overlap said facesand are substantially coextensive with the top and sides of the cabinet. In such types of cabinets, the construction of the door and coacting parts presents problems not present in cabinetsof conventional construction.

The door is made up of an outer panel or shell l0 and an inner panel or door pan II with suitable insulation material therebetweern The door pan Ii may be formed of plastic, fibrous composition or like material capable of being molded or pressed into the desired shape. Such mateefficiency.

The central portion of the door pan is dished or, formed with an inset II to increase the capacity of the food storage compartment. The

similar to sheet metal.

marginal edges of the pan project straight or are unbent, since material of this type does not lend itself, to bending and flanging in a manner Adjacent the outer marginal portion of the shell I is a metallic substantially Z-shaped frame or reinforcement member I2, the outer inturned flange l2 thereof lying flush against and being secured as by welding to the shell and the inner flange l2 of the frame member projectingfree and serving as a reinforcement for the marginal edge of the door pan. This frame member is continuous or constitutes a ring which extends completely around the door.

Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive illustrate the successive steps in the method of fabricating the door outer panel or shell and the frame member or reinforcement ring and the manner of assembling The reinforcement ring or frame member I! constitutes the entire door framestructure or the sole connecting means between the outer and inner spaced walls of the door. By making the the panel In after the initial drawing operation is turned outwardly and projects free.

Figs. 7 and '1 show the preferred method of forming the reinforcement ring or frame member I2. A blank of sheet metal of suitable overall dimensions is utilized and has the member 12 stamped out from the marginal portion thereof, the completely formed ring detached from the blank being shown in Fig. '1. The central per-- tion from which the ring is stamped may be utilized elsewhere in the cabinet, as for example, the food compartment top and bottom.

The reinforcement ring is then secured to the panel ID as shown in Fig. 8, preferably by spot welding. It will be noted that the point at which the ring is secured to the door outer panel determines the overall dimensions of the door for'size and shape and serves as a definite gauge for succeeding operations. In other words. the ring may be used as a means for accurately dimensioning the door, and if each ring is stamped or formed with the"'same dimensions, the line of doors to which the rings are applied will likewise have constant dimensions.

Fig. 9 shows the completed door outer panel with the marginal edgethereof trimmed to size and bent inwardly over the contiguous flange of the reinforcement ring.

The outer panel with the reinforcement ring I secured thereto is now ready for assembly with the door pan I I and combined thermal break and sealing gasket 13, the latter being provided with v a web I4 and a hollow sealing bead It. It will b noted that the bead I5 is relatively large or is of v the so-called balloon type. A gasket of this type permits the door to close easily and at the same time provides a highly efficient seal. The thermal insulating portion of the gasket is engaged be tween the outer edge of the door pan II and inturned edge of the door outer panel with the web I lying between the-reinforcement ring and the said marginal edge of the door pan. Suitable fastenerahere shown in the form of screws I, are projected through the marginal edge of the door pan II, the web ll of the gasket and the reinforcement ring II. V

This construction permits the gasket to beassembled in non-displaceable position without unduly confining or restricting the gasket, the hollow sealing bead l5 overlying the joint between.

reinforcement ring or frame member as shown, itsstrength is materially increased so that in .actual practice the ring may be formed of sheet metal of substantially the same gauge as that used for other parts of the cabinet. It will also be seen that the door is materially simplified and reduced in weight, and that the inner horizontal flange of the reinforcement ring extends substantially at right angles to the edge of the marginal door pan and reinforces the latter.-

This type of frame structure also provides a convenient and stable connection for the door hinge, indicated at H. The hinge has one leaf thereof projected through a slot l8 formed in the outer shell and secured to the body portion of the frame member I! by means of'fastening devices such as screws I9, the stationary leaf of the hinge being anchored to the adjacent portion of the cabinet in any suitable manner. Thus, the weight of the door is taken by the hinge through the frame member l2 and distributed throughout the entire peripheral portion of the door. This construction also permits the use of lighter and cheaper hinges for low cost cabinets.

-A door of the type herein disclosed is easily fabricated and actual experience has demonstrated its ruggedness and capability of long service. a

Fig. 11 illustrates a cabinet utilizing one door only indicated at D' for the entire face of the cabinet, this door serving the dual purpose of a food compartment and machine compartment door.

It will be understood that certain minor changes in construction and design may be and substantially perpendicular toits inturned' marginal flanges, said ring flange being secured to said shell in substantially continuous contact with the inner surface thereof to accurately shape and dimension said door, and said ring having a body portion extending inwardly from said flange in spaced parallel relation with respect to the coplanar marginal flanges of said shell and free from contact with the shell.

2. In a door for a domestic refrigerator comprising a dished-out metal outer shell bounded by rearwardly extending edge portions terir inating in coplanar inturned marginal flanges, and an inner panel member, a one-piece dimensioning and reinforcing ring of rigid angle section disposed within said shell and having a flange at its outer edge extending parallel to the rearward- 1y extending edge portions'of the shell and towards and to its inturned marginal flanges, said ring flange being securedv to said outer shell in substantially continuous contact with the inner surface'thereof to accurately shape and dimension said door, and said ring having a body portion extending inwardly from said flange in spaced parallel relation with respect to the coplanar marginal flanges of said shell and underlying and supporting the edge portion of said inner panel member.

3. In a door for a domestic refrigerator having a dished-out metal outer shell forming the entire front of said door and boundedby rearwardly extending edgefportions terminating in coplanar inturned marginal flanges, a rigid one-piece dimensioning and reinforcing ring disposed within said shell and having a flange at' its outer-edge extending'parallel to the rearwardly extending edge portions of the shell and secured thereto in substantially continuous contact with the inner surface thereof to accurately shape and dimenextending inwardly from said flange in spaced parallel relation with respect to the coplanar marginal flanges of said shell, hinges for said door at I one side thereof each comprising a member extending through openings in the outer shell and the flange of said ring and lapping the body portion of the latter, and means securing said hinge. member to the body portion of the ring;

4. In a door for a domestic refrigerator com- 'sion said door, said ring having a body portion prising a dished-out metal outer shell forming the entire front of said door andbounded by rearwardly extending edge portions terminating in coplanar inturned marginal flanges, and'an inner panel member, a rigid one-piece dimensioning and reinforcing ring disposed within said shell and having a flange at its outer edge extending partion with respect to the coplanar marginal flanges of said shell and underlying the edge portion of said innerpanel member,.hinges for. said door at one side thereof each comprising a member extending through openings in theouter shell and the flange of said ring and between the body portion of the latter and the edge portion of the inner panel member, and means securing said hinge member to the-body portion of the ring.

5. A domestic refrigerator door and sealing gasket comprising, in combination, an outer panel member having an inturned flange, a bracket member. secured to said outer panel and recessed inwardly thereof, an inner panel member, said bracket and inner panel-members having their edge portions .in overlapping relation,

a resilient gasket member having a lip portion interposed between said lapping edge portions of the bracket and inner panel 'members, a head portion outwardly overlying both said inturned flange and the edge portion of said inner panel, and a shank portion joining said lip portion and panel members, and means securing said hinge member to said bracket member.

'6. A domestic refrigerator door and sealing gasket comprising, in combination, a dished outer panel member having an inturned flange extending continuously thereabout, a bracket member secured to said outer panel and extending continuously thereabout in inwardly spaced parallel relation with respect to said inturned flange, an inner panel member, said bracket and inner panel members having their edge portions in overlapping relation, a resilient gasket member carried by said door and having a bead overlying both the inturned flange and inner panel member, hinges for said door along one sidethereof each comprising a member extending through an opening in the outer panel and bracket members and interposed between the overlapping Portions of the bracket and inner panel members, and means securing said hinge member to said bracket member.

7. A domestic refrigerator door and sealing gasket comprising, in combination, a dished outer panelimember having an inturned flange extending. continuously thereabout; a bracket member secured to said outer panel and extending continuously thereabout in inwardly spaced parallel relation with respect to said inturned flange, an

a bead portion outwardly overlying both said inturned flange and edge portion of said inner.

panel, a shank portion joining said lip portion and said head and extending outwardly between the edges of theinturned flange and inner panel member, 'means securing said inner panel memher and gasket to the bracket member, said means underlying the bead portion of the gasket and being concealed. thereby, hinges for said door along one side edge thereof each comprising a member extending through an opening in .the outer panel and bracket members and interposed between the overlapping portions of the bracket and inner panel members, and means securin said hinge member to said bracket member. 8. A domestic refrigerator door comprising, in

combination, a dished outer panel member, a bracket member secured to the internal periphery of said outer panel extending continuously thereping relation, said gasket lip portion being insaid bead and extending outwardly between the edges of the inturned flange and inner panel 5 member, hinges for said door-along one .side edse thereof each comprising a member extendbracket members and interposed between the overlappins portions of the bracket and inner terposed between said overlapping edge portions,

hinges for said door, each comprising a tongue extending through an. opening in said outer panel about and recessed inwardly of said periphery, an inner panel member,-a resilient gasket member member and overlying said bracket member, said gasket beingnotched to provide a recess therein for the reception of the tongue of said hinge, and

bracket member and compressing said gasket lip around saidhinse tongue, whereby a moistureing through an opening in the outer panel-and "l0 tight seal may be formed about said hinge member.

\ CARL PHILIP ERIGKSOM 

